2018 Community Letter, September

Dear Community Members, September 2018

Our “COMMUNITY ALERT” letter that recently went out, explaining our current shortfall of funds, was answered with genuine concern and support for assisting Dixon Family Services (DFS) keep the doors open to serve families and individuals in need in Dixon.

Responses included contributions ranging from checks or credit card gifts in various denominations, to setting up delivery from Staples every 5 weeks of a case of paper towels for our dispensers in each of our 4 bathrooms. Quote “Just our small way to help. You (DFS) do so much for the community.”

Another donor set up an automatic withdrawal from their checking account of $50 every 3 months. Quote “This way we will be contributing a total of $200 per year without feeling it or having to remember to send it.”

To save the cost of postage I have been calling, texting and emailing donors to express gratitude on behalf of everyone at DFS and the people we serve. In case I have missed reaching you. . . THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!

The donations we’ve received in recent weeks are all very helpful but –

WE DO NEED MORE PEOPLE TO RESPOND WITH KINDNESS

Helping us can look many different ways, such as the examples above and those below.

If you send a financial contribution it will be used in the most critical area(s). If you, as an individual, a business or club/organization prefer to sponsor a particular program, you can talk to me about that. Many service organizations, churches and businesses over the years have “sponsored” programs and services that we offer at DFS.

As I shared in the recent letter, this fiscal year (2018/2019) we have the lowest amount of government funding coming into our organization’s budget than we have had in decades.We need the support of our community now more than ever!

If you want to cover of one of our tangible needs, similarly to the paper towel donors, I have a list for the many items we use to operate our organization, such as:

Donate tangible items to us that we can use rather than having the expense of purchasing them with our lean budget. Examples include copy paper, toilet paper, cleaning supplies.

Host a yard sale, bake sale, car wash, barbeque, or other ways to raise funds in the name of Dixon Family Services.

Memorial contributions in the name of a loved one

For future giving consider putting DFS in your will and estate plan

The services provided at Dixon Family Services are vital to a healthy community.

When I am out and about talking with people in town, it is rare that I find someone who can say they have not sent someone they know, referred one of their family members or utilized one of the various DFS programs themselves at one time or another. We help hundreds of people each year achieve goals such as increased financial stability, improved employment, improved nutrition, sobriety, emotional wellness, positive parenting and family cohesiveness. Many of the people we help become active and contributing members of this community.

Please take a moment to think about what it would be like if DFS did not exist. If you have been thinking about writing a check or of getting involved in any way, please make now the time to do it.Right now is when we need your help the most. We do not expect this lack of government funding to go on forever but in the interim we must count on your support, in as big or as small a way that you can. Everything is appreciated!

Mission Statement

The mission of Dixon Family Services is to improve the quality of life for all families and individuals in our diverse community. Our intervention and support services are strengthened by cooperation with the schools, churches, businesses and the community.